Swallow in ‘race against time’
The five-year-old’s participation in the big race at Nad Al Sheba on March 25 is in doubt after he missed a week of work with a cut in a hind leg.
“We’re pleased with him now but we did have a slight hold-up with him a week or two ago,” the trainer old At The Races.
“He’s over that and it’s still quite a possibility we will train him for the Dubai World Cup.
“A final decision will not be made until nearer to the day, but he will be doing most of his preparation here if we decide to send him.
“He got cast and sustained a little cut in his hind leg and was sore on it for a couple of days.
“It’s a bit of a race against time because of missing the week. I’ll be in a better position in two weeks’ time to know and to see whether we are going to have a crack at it or not.
“The horse is currently very well.”
* The Listener warms up for Cheltenham by taking on four rivals in the totepool Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Lingfield today.
The seven-year-old, generally available at 8-1 for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, was last seen completing a hat-trick at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
“He had three quick races in the month up to New Year’s Day and we’ve given him a break,” said trainer Robert Alner.
“I’m sure he’ll do his best tomorrow but obviously the priority is to train him for Cheltenham.
“Tomorrow’s race will be one on the way to that goal. At least it will be soft enough and he gets the trip OK.”
* Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Kauto Star will go straight to the Cheltenham Festival without a prep run.
The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old was set to take his chance in the rearranged Game Spirit Chase at Lingfield on Saturday but the prevailing soft conditions at the Surrey track forced the Ditcheat handler into a rethink.
“Kauto Star is a non-runner because of the ground,” Nicholls told Teletext.
“I didn’t want to run him on heavy ground and he’ll go straight for the Champion Chase.”
* Gerard Butler sends dual Group Two winner Nayyir to Wolverhampton today to fine-tune him for a possible tilt in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Nad Al Sheba next month.
The eight-year-old is set to take his chance in the betdirect.co.uk Conditions Stakes after he was last seen finishing fourth behind Arakan in the Group Three Supreme Stakes at Goodwood last September.
“We are trying to get him organised to go out to Dubai in the next couple of weeks,” said the Blewbury handler.
“He hasn’t had a run for a long while and this looked the perfect opportunity for him.
“He qualifies for all the conditions of the race so hopefully it will go to plan.”
